Hammer in her left hand, sword in her right, the eldest sister is connected to both worlds.

The demon race is in turmoil, and all six sects and twelve factions are mobilized. It seems the major events of the next year or two will have to be canceled. Xu Qizhou heads to the Longsword Sect to provide support. The sect recalls its disciples who are away and suspends all external missions.

Taking advantage of the rare moment of leisure, Xue Lan went into the cave behind the mountain again, intending to refine some things.

The two Crimson Jade Spiders were ready to spin their silk, and Xue Lan had promised Yan Chengxue she would craft puppet strings for him. All their friends who had previously gathered at the Xuanhuang Sect had left because of the Demon Clan's affairs. Yan Chengxue also accompanied her master, Master Chen, to Luoxia Mountain to reinforce the mountain's protective array.

"The protective array of Luoxia Mountain is called Lei Kui. It was created by a demon array cultivator who sacrificed his own essence ten thousand years ago, and it contains world-destroying thunder. Demons above the Nascent Soul stage cannot pass through it." Cui Wu looked at Lian Chuan beside him and spoke softly and gently.

"Senior's merits are immeasurable. As long as the Nascent Soul stage demons cannot enter Luoxia Mountain, the human race will definitely win."

Lian Chuan nodded knowingly.

“Besides, Mount Luoxia also has a Mountain God who can mobilize the power of all the mountains in the Luoxia Mountain range to block the invasion of the demon race. Otherwise, if the demon beasts enter the pass, millions of mortals could be killed or injured.” Xue Lan sat to the side polishing a red sword scabbard. The scabbard appeared to be made of wood and emitted a red glow. Places for setting gemstones had already been reserved on it.

Golden inscriptions are wrapped around it, outlining a lifelike golden phoenix.

"Demons..." Lian Chuan murmured the name, unconsciously tightening his grip on the sword.

"You don't need to be too angry. Before you reach the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, the sect won't send you to the battlefield. If the sky falls, those with higher cultivation will hold it up first." Xue Lan said as she picked at the fire crystal on the refining platform. This kind of crystal was as bright as fire and could enhance the mobilization of fire-type spiritual power.

"Why? I can kill demons too," Lian Chuan asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Because you haven't killed as many as others, you're more likely to be killed by the demons. When the demon tide erupts, all the sects will set up camps in Crimson Cloud Valley. I'll go there to forge weapons then. You'll stay with me." Xue Lan inlaid fire crystals on the sword sheath, glancing sideways at Lian Chuan with slightly narrowed eyes.

Lian Chuan was a little unhappy: "I understand, Senior Sister."

"I see you're somewhat unconvinced. With a formidable enemy at hand, we cultivators each have our responsibilities. Only by doing our jobs well can we prevent trouble from arising."

Cui Wu saw Xue Lan lift up the finished sword sheath and reveal a satisfied smile.

"Perhaps this war between humans and demons that has lasted for ten thousand years will end in our hands?"

As soon as Xue Lan finished speaking, she sensed two powerful auras outside the cave.

"Come with me to greet our master."

The three arrived outside the cave and, as expected, saw Master Xuanji and Tushan Yan.

"Young friend, we meet again!" Tu Shanyan was still wearing a red dress, but this time she had concealed her tail. She greeted Xue Lan with a charming smile, gazing at the area behind Xue Lan with a beaming gaze.

Xue Lan sensed something was wrong and, as she turned around, she indeed saw half a scarlet leg that had accidentally peeked out from the crack in the cave door.

"She saw it, didn't she?" The system's voice was deathly still. It was genuinely terrified of the two Crimson Jade Spiders and had barely spoken in the secret realm.

"Isn't that obvious?" Xue Lan said with a bright smile. "I still remember your heroic figure vividly."

Cui Wu had already noticed that something was wrong with his senior sister, so he silently took two steps back and kicked the scarlet leg back.

At the same time, Lian Chuan had already blocked the gap in the door.

Tu Shanyan naturally couldn't possibly be unaware of their subtle movements. Xue Lan sensed a powerful divine sense sweep over the two small spiders behind the door, and instantly withdrew it.

"The reason I came here with True Master Xuanji is to borrow your junior sister for a while."

Xue Lan's heart, which had just been put at ease, was now on edge again.

"Borrow my junior sister?"

Which junior sister? What's she for?

Master Xuanji glanced at Cui Wu beside him: "With a great battle imminent, it's still hard to leave a demon spy unattended. I previously used tortoise shell divination to discover a hidden aura connected to Cui Wu at Jiyue Mountain. Someone is investigating Cui Wu's location. This person's strength is probably already at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm. There are only two Nascent Soul realm ancestors at Jiyue Mountain. Fellow Daoist Tushan and I plan to take Cui Wu to meet that person."

Xue Lan glanced at Xuanji Zhenren, then at Cui Wu. Finally, she pulled Cui Wu back into the cave. She rummaged through a box in the corner and found some jet-black beads, which she handed to Cui Wu.

Cui Wu took them and saw that they were beads about the size of a thumb, with intricate inscriptions engraved on them.

"This is Luo Shengzi. Ignite it with lightning spiritual power and throw it out. Those below the late Golden Core stage should avoid it."

It was developed by Xue Lan when he blew up the sect's weapon-refining room while teaching himself how to use explosives.

"There are only ten left. Use them sparingly. I didn't give you these to charge into battle; just throw them away and run, understand?"

Seeing Xue Lan's serious expression, Cui Wu, holding Luo Shengzi, nodded vigorously.

"I understand, Senior Sister."

Once outside, Xue Lan asked Master Xuanji in a serious tone.

"Grandmaster, my junior sister was still alive when she came back..."

Master Xuanji raised his hand and formed a hand seal, choking Xue Lan's words. She covered her throat, unable to speak.

Master Xuanji turned to Tu Shanyan beside him and smiled apologetically: "Fellow Daoist, you flatter me. This child has a tendency to make his words come true in some matters."

Tu Shan Yan understood and kept laughing as she looked at Xue Lan, who couldn't speak.

Cui Wu accompanied Master Xuanji to Jiyue Mountain to fish for big fish. Xue Lan also finished crafting Yan Chengxue's puppet strings.

Master Xuanji intended to cure Xue Lan's habit of talking nonsense. For the next three days, Xue Lan was unable to speak, as his throat would itch whenever he tried to speak.

It was precisely because of this that Lian Chuan was subjected to difficulties by his senior sister, and spent three days copying weapon-refining diagrams, suffering greatly.

Cui Wu and his companions first arrived at Lianyue City at the foot of Jiyue Mountain. To avoid attracting the attention of those hiding in the shadows, Xuanji Zhenren and Tushan Yan consciously vanished into the void.

While the various factions helped each other, they also kept an eye on each other. The Xuanhuang Sect had a stronghold within Lianyue City. Master Xuanji told Cui Wu not to be reserved and to wander around as he pleased.

Tu Shanyan also laughed and said that they might encounter a little mouse.

Cui Wu originally planned to go to the Xuanhuang Sect's stronghold in Lianyue City. However, fate had other plans. On the way, he saw the little mouse that Tu Shanyan had mentioned. Qi Yaoyao was being escorted through the streets by a group of Jiyue Mountain disciples. Her light green dress made her look like a fairy. The girl carried the Zhuohua Bow on her back, deliberately showing it off.

However, Cui Wu looked at Qi Yaoyao's left arm, which was not made of flesh and blood.

Ordinary cultivators wouldn't be able to tell the difference, but she was different. Having been by Xue Lan's side for so long, she could still distinguish between the puppet arm and the real body.

Cui Wu smiled slightly, preparing to disappear. But his body suddenly froze for a moment, as if out of his own control. When Cui Wu came to his senses, he had already met Qi Yaoyao's eyes through the crowd.

After Qi Yaoyao returned to the sect, her left arm had been completely corrupted by the demonic poison and was beyond repair. She had no choice but to have it severed entirely. Moreover, due to the poison, even with her grandmaster's help, a new arm couldn't regenerate. She was forced to wear a bulky prosthetic arm all day long.

The pain of the demonic poison twisted Qi Yaoyao's heart more and more, showing signs of succumbing to demonic possession. The more resentful and unwilling she became, the deeper the demonic poison seeped into her. Her master had said that in a few years, she would become a monster that was neither human nor demon.

It was all Cui Wu's fault. If she had obediently become a test subject, if she had willingly given him her golden core, not to mention those mortals who were worse than pigs and dogs, even the disciples of Jiyue Mountain wouldn't be worth a fraction of her.

Qi Yaoyao grew increasingly obsessed with Cui Wu, wishing she could skin him alive, and her nights were filled with nightmares.

It was at this time that Cui Wu met Qi Yaoyao.